Grays Harbor Community Hospital has been re-designated as a Level II Cardiac and Stroke Center, the hospital announced.
This makes GHCH the only Level II facility west of Olympia.
“It’s really the proximity thing, especially when dealing with strokes,” said Chris Majors, the hospital’s director of marketing and public relations. “Because every moment you can save, and not have to take the extra time to go to a facility further away, counts. … The difference between 20 minutes can really affect whether someone lives or dies and can have an affect on that person’s quality of life.”
The Washington Office of Community Health Systems informed the hospital of its re-designation certification in mid-July.
“I am pleased to inform you that Grays Harbor Community Hospital remains a Level II Cardiac Center and a Level II Stroke Center,” the office said in a statement to the hospital. “Upon review of your applications for re-categorization in Washington State’s Emergency Cardiac and Stroke System, your facility meets or exceeds the requirements for these levels of care. The categorization period is effective from July 18, 2020 through July 17, 2023.
”You have certified that your hospital meets the criteria for a Level II Cardiac Center and a Level II Stroke Center, and provides the applicable services 24 hours a day, seven days per week. Your certification assures emergency medical services that you will provide this level of service for patients they bring to your hospital according to the state cardiac and stroke triage destination procedures.”
According to the American Stroke Association, strokes are the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “When someone is having a stroke, every minute counts. Just as putting out a fire quickly can stop it from spreading, treating a stroke quickly can reduce damage to the brain. The stroke treatments that work best are available only if the stroke is recognized and diagnosed within three hours of the first symptoms. Stroke patients may not be eligible for these if they don’t arrive at the hospital in time.”
While other hospitals in the region have a Level II Cardiac designation, GHCH feels its Cardiology, Cardiac Cath Lab, STEMI and Cardiac Rehab programs distinguish it as the most comprehensive cardiovascular care facility in Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties.
The Cardiac Rehab program offers exercise training and counseling, risk-factor management and stress counseling as part of its team-approach effort in battling cardiac disease.
According to the American Heart Association, “When an emergency strikes, hospitals are still the safest place — even during a pandemic. About every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack. Some heart attacks are sudden and intense but most start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, immediately call 911. Before there’s an emergency, it’s a good idea to find out which hospitals in your area have 24-hour emergency cardiac care.”
A cardiac technician shows a closeup of a single image of the arteries surrounding a patient’s heart. (Photo courtesy of Grays Harbor Community Hospital)
